After a meeting with United Nations (UN) senior leaders and experts, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters on Friday, the agency will establish an “Ebola Crisis Centre” with the goal of stopping the transmission in affected countries within six to nine months.

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According to the UN, the Ebola epidemic is no longer just a public health emergency, but a full blown economic crisis for millions. UN calls for a global contribution, by making an "international rescue call," as $600 million is needed for supplies in West Africa. "The number of cases is rising exponentially. The disease is spreading far faster than the response," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.

Due to the excessive need for manpower and various medical supplies, UN urgers airline and shipping companies not to cancel flights and docking to the affected countries. “The people of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in particular are looking to us for support,” said Ban. “They are counting on us for a massive surge in assistance: more doctors, nurses and beds; more equipment, trucks and other vehicles.”

One agencies partnering with the UN to tackle the crisis is the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO has launched the "Roadmap for Ebola" response, as it believes that coordinating with the scientific community will help fast track the control of the virus quicker. UN official Dr. Margaret Chan said, “We want to look at the vaccines, we want to look at medicines and identify those with good potential for preventing Ebola or for treating Ebola,” she said. Adding that “whole world is responsible and accountable to bring the Ebola outbreak under control.”

Former United Nations Secretary-general Kofi Annan reinforces Ban Ki-moon's international rescue call.